He's Been There

I am generally hesitant to sing Christmas carols in church. Don't get me wrong, I love listening to them as I am driving in the car or baking. However, I have always had trouble singing them as worship songs. Even as we sang them in church this morning, I was thinking about how they portray the helpless baby Jesus, and in my head I was like, Yeah, but not completely helpless. He was God! Why can't Christmas songs talk about a victorious Savior, a mighty warrior? The Jesus in Revelation, who comes riding on a white horse, ready to conquer sin and death!"

When it comes to Christmas, I know we are celebrating the birth of a baby, but I always want to remember that He didn't stay a baby. I never held onto the idea of Jesus as a helpless, dependent infant. I would rather sing "Behold He comes riding on the clouds, shining like the sun, at the trumpet call!" as opposed to "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed - the little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head." But, of course, as I am thinking how deep I am being, remembering that Christ didn't stay in the manger and we should celebrate the victorious Jesus, my pastor addressed the very issue. And I have had a change of heart.

Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Because Jesus came to the earth in the form of a helpless baby, he can understand the weaknesses that we go through. As One who was Himself dependent, He knows our dependency. He understands why we need help.

I had never thought about it that way. I knew that Jesus went through the same temptations we do, but the fact that He even experienced our helplessness and our weakness as being only human means so much more. He understands our limitations. And therefore, we can approach God with confidence; Jesus is our intercessor, and He can sympathize with us. Jesus knows our need for grace because He knows our innate weakness. It's wonderful to have a Savior who not only loves you but who identifies with you. As I continually find myself struggling in the same areas over and over, my Jesus is not looking down and shaking His head, wondering what my problem is. I trust that His heart is moved, and He understands. Not that it makes it okay, but in my weaknesses He wants to be my strength.

Our dependency on grace is not a burden to God. Our humanity is not an annoyance. It is an opportunity for God to be God, and we can have confidence in that because Jesus has been here, too.